Are Fertile Women More Attractive?

Recent research argues that female sexuality changes in the days surrounding ovulation. Like other mammals women are now thought to experience sexual heat, or estrus. Earlier sex researchers assumed that women had lost estrus entirely, or had "concealed" it, thereby keeping men in the dark as to when ovulation was actually taking place.

If men had no idea when women were ovulating, (which occurs in mid cycle), then they might be induced to stay around and care for offspring. The idea is that if men had no idea when women were fertile, then attempting to impregnate several women by showing up on those days of the month when each woman is most likely to conceive is a non starter.

The notion that women evolved concealed ovulation as a means of securing investment by men in themselves and their children has had a good inning but researchers have been chipping away at some of the its key assumptions. Is ovulation really hidden, or is it just not advertised? Are men completely in the dark about when women are most fertile in their cycle? Or do they find women more appealing when they are in estrus, just as other male mammals are drawn to estrus females?

Cues to being in heatA lot of recent research looks for behavioral differences across the menstrual cycle relevant to women's sexual behavior and attractiveness to men. Contrary to the view that human estrus is cryptic, whether unadvertised, or "concealed," many cues can be used to distinguish between women who are close to ovulation and the same individuals at other times in the menstrual cycle.

Feminine lust is probably not one of them. There is no reliable difference in female-initiated sexual behavior between estrus and other parts of the menstrual cycle - as detailed in an earlier post. Some studies reported such a difference but many others did not (1). On the other hand, a great deal of research now indicates that women are more attractive at mid cycle (2).

Their body scent is more attractive to men. Their bodies also become more symmetrical due to changing shape of the soft tissues. Skin becomes paler, which is significant because women are slightly less pigmented than men in all ethnic groups. Their gait is sexier. Even women's voices change, becoming more high-pitched when they are fertile (2).

As if this were not enough for a species supposedly having concealed ovulation, it turns out that men are also sensitive to when their female partners are ovulating because they are more attentive, and express greater jealousy at these times.

Despite all of the possible cues to their reproductive state, women themselves are not particularly good at detecting whether they are fertile or not, guessing correctly about 60 percent of the time versus a 50 percent chance of being right.

Whether they are aware of it or not, women who are fertile behave differently. In particular, they are more likely to wear revealing clothing and to behave in flirtatious ways (3). The researchers believe that clothing preferences around ovulation may reflect a ratcheting up of female-female competition. Another factor is that they are free of the discomfort of menstruation and pre-menstrual symptoms that may take up as much as a third of the cycle.

All of the above changes in women's attractiveness and flirtatiousness across the menstrual cycle may have a relatively simple hormonal explanation. They might be due to increases in estrogen levels, which peak around the time of ovulation. Other research finds that women whose estrogen (estradiol) level is high are both more physically attractive and more likely to think of cheating on their current mate (4).

Marilyn Monroe is sometimes given as a good example of a high-estrogen woman given both her curvaceousness and physical attractiveness and her proclivity to love them and leave them so far as boyfriends were concerned. She was also competitive with other women and mostly disliked by them. Moreover, she tended to move up the social ladder, dating leading figures right up to the U.S. president. Perhaps ordinary women feel a little bit more like Marilyn Monroe on days of the month when they are fertile.

Thanks for another interesting discussion of the state of the research. It seems to me that a useful way to think about estrus in humans is in terms of sexual receptivity, as opposed to fertility. The human female is able and willing (theoretically, at least) to have sex at any point in her menstrual cycle. One can also argue, as many do, that women's pendulous breasts are permanent sexual swellings. So maybe women didn't "lose" estrus, so much as expand it (or at least behavioral and visual cues to it) to occupy their whole menstrual cycle.

I'm not sure that the statement that estrogen levels peak at ovulation is true - progesterone is released at time of ovulation - which functions to drop levels of estrogen during the time women are most fertile. It would be more accurate, perhaps, to say that estrogen levels peak just before ovulation.

The concept presented would be very interesting in the context of the wide-spread use of oral contraceptives in women (in our study, over 80% had used hormonal contraceptives at one time or another - and many for "non-contraceptive benefits of the pill" which is also prescribed for everything from acne to heavy bleeding). Would sustained levels of high ovarian hormones be more or less "attractive" for males and how would different formulations interfere with this silent chemical attraction?

Woww what an interesting article! It's almost inspired me to take a course is psychology.

I find it interesting that the author forgot to mention the issue of hormonal contraception. The mass majority of women are taking hormonal contraception which would confuse her body hormonally, and I am sure would effect how fertile she is, and the signals etc that she gives off when she is fertile.

I am a natural woman, dont take any hormonal contraception and stay aware from anything that could disrupt my hormones (smokeing, drinking etc). I have been like this for two years now, and have become accutely aware of when I am most fertile.

My skin does become paler, and my skin pores become smaller, skin looks for radiant and young, eyes seem to appear bigger. Genrelly I feel more energetic, labido is higher aswell.

I have also become aware of how men behave around me when I am fertile, I seem to get more male attention in an almost competitive way, and my partner seems to be more sexually attracted to me and posessive. One of my work collegues even commented on how lovely I smelt, I dont wear perfume or anything that disguises my natural smell.

I realise this makes me sound ridiculously big headed, bu I assure you, the other 3 weeks of my cycle, I battle with pimples, blemishes, periods, and other such burdens. So I have learnt to really value this one week of fertility I have. And it's so thrilling to be completley intune with my body.

I think these days we live in a sexless society, where women are taking dodgy hormonal contraception and men are drinking/smokeing and genrelly not looking after there health. Being fertile should be encouraged, it encourages people to be healthy and thus have healthy offspring.

I agree with you 100% and am a women who is natural and can totally tell. Contraception is such an interesting topic, my mother can't take the pill just because of an unnatural hormone... that screws with her hormones and mind, I don't think many people realize that aspect of hormonal contraception at all.

I can always find a man who is staring at me when I'm in heat. I can feel my libido "shout" when I'm in need. The fact that I'm a curvy women and have loose and large lips down there doesn't seem to be anything but a challenge to confident men. "Think you've got a large one? Come and let's see if you can fill my void!"

I recently wrote about how to be more attractive to women on my advice blog:

www.askaden.com/2009/12/how-can-i-make-myself-more-attractive.html

Dear Aden
I want to make myself more attractive to women. It’s not that I have a problem getting dates now, its just that I want to get dates with a better class of girl. I feel like I can do much better than I am. Do you have any advice?
- Chris

Dear Chris,
When it comes to being more attractive to women, first off the fact that you are coming to grips with the idea that the girls you are dating are not worth your time is a big step in the right direction. Even better, you did not put the blame for dating low-grade women on anyone’s shoulders but your own, another nice step. Lastly, you are connecting that dots that there are things you can do to make yourself more attractive to women. Great work my boy; you are well on your way.
Without knowing more about your specific situation I can offer you some general advice about behavior that will help you be more attractive to women.
Show you are a good provider. Women want a man that can meet their needs. If you are a good provider, you are naturally more attractive to women. But when it comes to dating, I am not asking you to be a push over or a sugar daddy. The first step to being a good provider in the context of dating is to take care and provide for yourself. If you can’t provide for yourself, how are you going to provide for her as the relationship develops? Provide for yourself physically, get fit, stay fit and show her that you care about your health not just from a vanity perspective but from a longevity perspective as well. Get to the gym, if you smoke – quit, make the steps necessary to get healthy now and long term. A healthy man is going to be able to provide for his woman long term and that gets her mating bells ringing. Don’t brag about your workouts either, in the words of Nike “Just Do It.” Bragging defeats the purpose; you need to show her that you are providing for yourself for you, not to impress anyone else. That way when she visualizes you providing for her, it won’t be under the notion that you are doing it for ulterior motives.
Be generous to yourself. In order to be more attractive to women Many guys will go out and spend every cent on the girl they are dating while at the same time being stingy when it comes to themselves. This doesn’t show women you are a good provider, it shows them you want to get laid. Consistently be good to yourself, if you go shopping buy yourself a new outfit, have her help you pick it out and don’t flinch just treat yourself because you deserve it! I don’t mean to cut her out of the picture completely, but when it comes to treating her save your ammo be thoughtful and think trough the gifts you give so that they are from the heart and not a bargaining chip for sex. You want to show her that if she makes it in to your inner-circle you will then give her the #1 spot you currently hold for yourself, but she MUST earn that title. Making women work for it naturally makes you more attractive to women.
Be available when the time comes. What I mean here is don’t settle. I certainly don’t mean don’t date anyone you don’t see yourself marring. What I mean is categorize women. It sounds cold but women and sex are a drug and you need to be careful. When you first meet a woman you need to decide, is this a girl I want to go to dinner with, is this a party friend, is this a short term relationship or could she be the one. You have to set a plan, and for the most part hold to it. More people end up with bad relationships because they had nothing to do on a Friday night in 1998 and just kept seeing the person because it was easy. Don’t be that guy! Always be ready and uncommitted until a worthwhile woman EARNS your commitment. Nothing makes you less attractive to women than a guy in a relationship with a low grade girl.
Have your resume ready. In order to be more attractive to women you need to always be ready. when you do meet that worthwhile woman, have your game face ready and your story straight. You need to be confident, clear, thoughtful and most importantly you need to show her that you deserve her and maybe a little bit better than her. If you independently surveyed the best couples you find a common thread, each person feels they are getting the better deal. If you are with the right woman, you brain and ego will scream “WOW DON’T BLOW IT! She is the one, you don’t deserve such an amazing woman” the key is to keep your cool, don’t drool and make sure her inner voice says the same thing.
Hope that helps,
-A.
www.askaden.com
www.heatherobsessed.com

Show you are a good provider. Women want a man that can meet their needs. If you are a good provider, you are naturally more attractive to women. But when it comes to dating, I am not asking you to be a push over or a sugar daddy. The first step to being a good provider in the context of dating is to take care and provide for yourself.
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